What's next?

• Al Franken wants the Minnesota Supreme Court to order an election certificate for him immediately if he prevails on the appeal. Norm Coleman has left open the possibility that he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review any ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court favoring Franken. The Minnesota high court says state appeals must be exhausted before an election certificate can be issued to the winner of the race. But it's unclear whether an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court would hold up a certificate.

• If the Minnesota Supreme Court rules in Coleman's favor, it's likely to return the case to the lower court that ruled in Franken's favor in April.